STP, completed....

[meganursula]

I wrote that I was going to do STP, so I'll also record that I did it.

We rode in two days - I think my total mileage was around 220. (I did 112 the first day, but my gps crapped out the second day, so I can't be sure. The total for the day was supposed to be 104, and we did a few extra, so...)

Day 1:
Departed: Jul 11, '15, 05:34AM
Starts in: Seattle, WA, US
Distance: 112.2 mi
Elevation: + 3343 / - 3197 ft
Max Grade
13.7 %
Avg. Grade
0.2 %
VAM 274 Vm/h
Ascent time 03:43:28
Descent time 04:02:11
Total Duration: 12:17:40
Moving Time: 08:03:40
Stopped Time: 04:14:00
Max Speed: 32.4 mph
Avg. Speed: 13.9 mph
Pace: 00:06:35
Moving Pace: 00:04:19

It felt like a different ride than the last time for many reasons. Some of the good stuff was the same, though. Its still a rush to be out there with so many other people, its still fun to see the country-side, I still like riding my bike. Some of the bad stuff is the same, too, like the road through Oregon was just as boring and exposed as I remembered.

This year the course went through Joint-base Lewis-McChord, and I really liked that. For one thing, we got some nice roads to ourselves, and it was peaceful. For another, it was interesting to see the base, and our lunch stop was in full view of some wonderful planes. There was a pretty massive head-wind much of the way around the base, though.

We stayed with a random host family, and that worked out fine. They were good people, and kind to us, and I enjoyed meeting them.

I was impressed with how well the ride went, actually. I was seriously undertrained, and I was really concerned when a ride a month or so ago left my arms sore for days. Adjusting my handle bars helped some, and my legs seemed to come up to speed. I still ended up with sorer arms than legs, and I'm ruing my lack of ab strength, but over all the ride was totally doable and enjoyable.

My biggest regret is that I neglected to get a picture with my comrades at the finish line.

Comments

[blk]

That's awesome and I'm impressed! Also my legs ache just reading all that. 14mph avg?? Sheesh, I'm lucky if I average that for 10 minutes while pushing hard, on flat trail. :)

[mh75.livejournal.com]

When I am alone and in a good space for it I like to push my speed for a while. I think it works a little bit like interval training for running, and also that it helped me strengthen even though my general distances were a bit shorter. (I hold 17-18mph on a clear trail when left up to my own devices, at least for 5-10 mile stretches.)

Also, I have a nice bike. I don't know how to quantify the benefit that brings, but I'm sure it brings some.

That said, STP the first day was fast for all of us. Not sure why - adrenaline and pace lines maybe.

Also, even though I feel strong sometimes, I still crawl behind many of the local cyclists riding laden beater bikes. Its a little odd.

[mamagotcha.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

[cheesepuppet.livejournal.com]

You rock! I'd love to do STP. A friend of mine once said, "I have this girlfriend who races bikes, and she has fibromyalgia, too, do you want me to ask her how she does that?" And I said, "Yes, please!" And we had coffee a couple weeks later and she said, "Yeah I asked her, she said she just rides through the pain." I think I was hoping for something a little more.....easy.

Just curious - did you happen to see anyone on a Brompton? I keep reading about how Bromptons can tour their stumpy little hearts out.